Noise cancellation is a toggle in your phone's settings, not something you buy separately

AirPods Pro and AirPods Max come with noise cancellation built in. You turn it on through your phone or device, not through the AirPods themselves. The feature works by having the AirPods play sound that cancels out background noise — it does not physically block sound the way earplugs do.

Standard AirPods (the basic model) and AirPods 3 do not have noise cancellation. If you own those, you cannot add it. If you own AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, the feature is already there; you just need to know where to find the switch.

Key Takeaways

  • Only AirPods Pro and AirPods Max have noise cancellation; standard AirPods and AirPods 3 do not.
  • You turn noise cancellation on through your phone's Control Center or Settings app, not through the AirPods themselves.
  • AirPods Pro also have Transparency mode, which lets you hear the world around you while still wearing them.
  • Noise cancellation drains the battery faster than regular listening, so you may need to charge more often.

Turning on noise cancellation through Control Center (fastest way)

The quickest route is through your phone's Control Center. Swipe down from the top right of your iPhone or iPad screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones). You will see a volume slider and a row of quick-access buttons.

Look for the audio icon — it looks like a speaker with sound waves. Tap and hold on it. A menu will pop up showing your connected AirPods and three options: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. Tap Noise Cancellation. The feature turns on when ready.

On Android, the process depends on your phone model, but most Android phones do not have a built-in Control Center. Instead, go to Settings and search for "AirPods" or "Bluetooth audio" to find the noise cancellation toggle. Some Android phones may not show this option at all, in which case you will need to use the Settings app method below.

Turning on noise cancellation through Settings

If you prefer to use the full Settings app, open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap Bluetooth. Find your AirPods Pro in the list and tap the information icon (the small circle with an "i" inside). Scroll down until you see "Noise Control" or "Noise Cancellation." Tap it and choose Noise Cancellation from the menu.

On Android, open Settings, go to Connected Devices or Bluetooth, find your AirPods Pro, and look for audio settings. The exact path varies by phone brand — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other manufacturers place this differently. If you cannot find it, your Android phone may not support changing this setting directly; you would need to use the AirPods app if it is installed.

Understanding the three noise modes on AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro have three listening modes, and you switch between them using the same Control Center menu. Noise Cancellation blocks outside sound so you hear mostly what is playing through the AirPods. Transparency does the opposite — it amplifies outside sound so you can hear conversations, traffic, or announcements while your music or call is still playing. Off turns off both features and uses regular listening mode.

You can also switch modes by pressing and holding the stem of your AirPods Pro for a few seconds. The AirPods will announce which mode you just switched to. This is useful if you are driving or do not want to pull out your phone.

AirPods Max have the same three modes, but you switch them using the Digital Crown (the dial on the side of the headphones) or through the same Control Center menu on your phone.

Why noise cancellation drains your battery faster

Noise cancellation uses extra power because the AirPods are constantly listening to outside sound and generating opposing sound waves to cancel it out. This means your battery will drain faster than it would in regular mode. AirPods Pro last about 6 hours with noise cancellation on, compared to 8 hours without it. AirPods Max last about 20 hours with noise cancellation on, compared to 40 hours without it.

If you are going to be away from a charger for a long time, you may want to turn noise cancellation off to extend battery life. You can always turn it back on when you need it.

Troubleshooting when noise cancellation is not working

If you have AirPods Pro but the noise cancellation option does not appear in your Control Center or Settings, first check that your AirPods are actually connected. Go to Bluetooth settings and make sure they show as "Connected." If they show as paired but not connected, disconnect them and reconnect.

Next, restart your phone. Many settings glitches clear up after a restart. If noise cancellation still does not appear, check that your phone's operating system is up to date. Go to Settings, then General, then Software Update (on iPhone) or Settings, then About Phone, then System Update (on Android). Install any available updates and try again.

If your AirPods Pro are very old or have been dropped or exposed to water, the noise cancellation hardware may be damaged. In that case, the feature will not work even though it should be available. Apple offers repair or replacement through their support site if your AirPods are still under warranty.

When to use each mode

Use Noise Cancellation when you are in a loud environment and want to focus — on a plane, in a busy office, or on a noisy commute. It is also useful when you are on a call and do not want the other person to hear background noise.

Use Transparency when you need to stay aware of your surroundings — walking on a street, in a store, or at home when someone might need to get your attention. Transparency lets you hear announcements, sirens, or someone calling your name while still listening to music or a podcast at a lower volume.

Use Off mode when you are in a quiet place and do not need either feature, or when you want to save battery. You can always switch back to Noise Cancellation or Transparency whenever you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pair my AirPods again to use noise cancellation?

No. Noise cancellation is a feature of AirPods Pro and AirPods Max that is always available once they are paired with your phone. You do not need to do anything special during pairing. Just turn the feature on through Control Center or Settings whenever you want to use it.

Can I use noise cancellation on multiple devices at the same time?

Your AirPods can only be connected to one device at a time. If you switch to a different phone or tablet, you will need to turn noise cancellation on again through that device's Control Center or Settings. The setting does not carry over between devices.

Will noise cancellation work if my AirPods battery is low?

Yes, but it will drain the battery even faster. If your AirPods are below 20 percent battery, you may want to turn off noise cancellation to make them last longer until you can charge them.

What is the difference between noise cancellation and Transparency mode?

Noise cancellation blocks outside sound so you hear mostly what is playing through the AirPods. Transparency amplifies outside sound so you can hear the world around you while your audio is still playing. They are opposites — you use one or the other depending on whether you want to be isolated or aware.

Can I use noise cancellation with phone calls?

Yes. Noise cancellation works during calls and actually helps the other person hear you better because it reduces background noise on your end. The person you are calling will notice less traffic, wind, or office noise in the background.